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BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) - The CEO of Starbucks has weighed in on the issues of same sex marriages at a shareholders meeting last week. Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, held strong in his support for gay rights. He told stakeholders if they have a problem with that, to get out.

Here is what Schultz had to say: “We employ 200,000 people in this company and we want to embrace diversity of all kinds. If you feel, respectfully, that you can get a higher return than the 38 percent that you got last year, it’s a free county you can sell your shares in Starbucks and buy shares in other companies.”

Last year, the Seattle company openly supported Washington state’s referendum that legalized same sex marriage. As a result, the National Organization for Marriage launched a boycott of the coffee giant.

But some Boise residents think regardless of your beliefs, it’s important to stand up for what you believe in.

“I am not for gay marriage but I think he has every right to what he believes and if that’s how he wants to run his company than that’s how he should be able to do so,” said Sally Davis, a Boise resident.

Schultz says supporting same sex marriage has not hurt the company. In fact as of last year Starbucks has nearly 18 thousand stores in 60 countries.

Schultz has been CEO of Starbucks for five years and he says he has stood up for gay rights, this whole time.